Islam in Aceh

Baiturrahman Great Mosque

Islam in Aceh is a religion shared by the majority of the population of Aceh. Many historians, both domestic and foreign, argue that Islam first entered Indonesia through Aceh. Marco Polo's passage in Perlak in the year 1292 states that the country has embraced Islam. So does Samudera-Pasai, based on the tomb found in the former kingdom and the news sources that exist as we have described that this kingdom has become the kingdom of Islam around 1270. On the history of the development of Islam in the region of Aceh in the early days the guidance that exists besides what we have mentioned in the last passage is in manuscripts originating from within the country itself such as the Book of Malay History, Tale of Pasai Raja. According to the two books, a preacher named Shaykh Ismail had come from Mecca deliberately towards the Ocean to Islamize the people there. After spreading Islam as necessary, Svekh Ismail returns home to Mecca. It is worth mentioning here that in these two books are mentioned also other countries in Aceh who participated diislamkan, among others: Perlak, Lamuri, Barus and others. Based on the information of both sources it can be estimated that some places in Aceh, especially places on the coast have embraced Islam. Islam that goes to Aceh in particular and Indonesia generally initially follow the streets and trading cities on the beach, then then spread to the interior. Merchants and preachers have played an important role in the spread of Islam. Historically sociologically, the entry and development of Islam into an area is very complex. There are many problems associated with it, such as where it came from, who brought, what the background and how the dynamics, both in terms of Islamic teachings and adherents. There are several opinions that state when the entry of Islam to Aceh. Hamka argues that Islam entered Aceh since the first century of Hijri (7th or 8th century AD) but it became a populist religion in the 9th century as Ali Hasjmy's opinion. While the orientalists like Snouck Hourgronje argue Islam entered in the 13th century AD which marked the establishment of the Sultanate of Samudra Pasai.